According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), US mills shipped approximately 6.5 million net tons (nt) of steel in July, representing a 11.2 percent decrease from the 7.3 million nt shipped in June , but a 23.0 percent increase year-over-year increase from the 5.3 million nt shipped in July 2009. Shipments year-to-date in 2010 are 48.8 million nt, a 55.3 percent increase over the 31.2 million nt shipments recorded during the same period in 2009. 2010 shipments would annualize at 83.6 million nt.
A month-to-month comparison of shipments shows the following changes: hot dipped galvanized sheet and strip, down 11 percent; cold rolled sheet, down 12 percent and hot rolled sheet, down 20 percent.